Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of  Tagetes patula  variety ‘PAS1077396’. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds, and tissue cultures of  Tagetes patula  variety ‘PAS1077396’, and to methods for producing a marigold plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another marigold plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to Tagetes patula plants and related methods andcompositions for the production thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Tagetes genus is a member of the family Asteraceae, alternativelyknown as Compositae, and comprises around thirty species of stronglyscented annual or perennial herbs. Tagetes are native from Arizona andNew Mexico to Argentina. Cultivated genera include Tagetes erecta,commonly referred to as African marigold, Tagetes patula, Frenchmarigold, Tagetes erecta×patula, also known as triploid marigolds, andTagetes tenuifolia, also known as Tagetes signata or commonly signetmarigold.

Cultivated marigolds perform well in dry or moist conditions withstrongly scented, showy flowers that are excellent in borders and as cutflowers. They produce a long-term display of colors, which includeyellow, orange, and gold, with shades of red and maroon from thetriploid and French types. Flowers range in size from 2.5 cm for theFrench varieties to as broad a 13 cm for some of the African varieties.Plants range from 15 to 91 cm in height and fill in well in the garden.Of the cultivated marigolds, the French marigolds are especially valuedin the landscape as a colorful upright-mounding border plant. Under highhumidity and high night temperatures, French marigolds typically stretchand exhibit reduced flowering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a Tagetes patula plant ofthe variety designated ‘PAS1077396’. Also provided are Tagetes plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics ofTagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’. Parts of the Tagetes plant of thepresent invention are also provided, for example, including a flower,pollen, a leaf, an ovule, and a cell of the plant.

The invention also concerns seed of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’.The Tagetes seed of the invention may be provided, in certainillustrative embodiments, as an essentially homogeneous population ofTagetes seed of the variety designated ‘PAS1077396’. Essentiallyhomogeneous populations of seed are generally free from substantialnumbers of other seed. Therefore, in one embodiment, seed of variety‘PAS1077396’ may be defined as forming at least about 90% of the totalseed, including at least about 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%,99%, or more of the seed. The population of Tagetes seed may beparticularly defined as being essentially free from hybrid seed. Theseed population may be separately grown to provide an essentiallyhomogeneous population of Tagetes plants designated variety‘PAS1077396’.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of Tagetes patula variety‘PAS1077396’ comprising an added heritable trait is provided. Theheritable trait may comprise a genetic locus that is, for example, adominant or recessive allele. In one embodiment of the invention, aplant of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, drought or heat tolerance, insect resistance,disease resistance, and modified carbohydrate metabolism. In furtherembodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturally occurring geneintroduced into the genome of the line by backcrossing, a natural orinduced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetictransformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previousgeneration thereof. When introduced through transformation, a geneticlocus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomallocation.

In another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a plant of variety ‘PAS1077396’ is provided. The tissue culturewill preferably be capable of regenerating plants capable of expressingall of the physiological and morphological characteristics of thevariety, and of regenerating plants having substantially the samegenotype as other plants of the variety. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of variety ‘PAS1077396’include those traits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerablecells in such tissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos,meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips,pistils, flowers, cuttings, seeds, and stems. Still further, the presentinvention provides Tagetes plants regenerated from a tissue culture ofthe invention, the plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of variety ‘PAS1077396’.

In yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing Tagetes seeds and plants, which processes generally comprisecrossing a first parent Tagetes plant with a second parent Tagetesplant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent Tagetes plantsis a plant of the variety designated variety ‘PAS1077396’. Theseprocesses may be further exemplified as processes for preparing hybridTagetes seed or plants, wherein a first Tagetes plant is crossed with asecond Tagetes plant of a different, distinct variety to provide ahybrid that has, as one of its parents, the Tagetes variety‘PAS1077396’. Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ may be used as eitherthe female or the male parent in such crosses. In these processes,crossing will result in the production of seed. The seed productionoccurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not. In a specificembodiment, Tagetes variety ‘PAS1077396’ may be used as a male parent ina cross with another variety such as Tagetes erecta to produce triploidseed, which may produce sterile triploid plants.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent Tagetes plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent Tagetes plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers, (i.e., killing or removing pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent Tagetes plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent Tagetes plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a Tagetes plant such as a hybridTagetes plant.

In an embodiment, a plant of the invention may be crossed with a plantof Tagetes patula variety ‘Little Devil Fire’ as the second Tagetesplant.

The present invention also provides the Tagetes seeds and plantsproduced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent Tagetesplant with a second parent Tagetes plant, wherein at least one of thefirst or second parent Tagetes plants is a plant of the varietydesignated ‘PAS1077396’. In one embodiment of the invention, Tagetesseed and plants produced by the process are first generation (F1) hybridTagetes seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordance withthe invention with another, distinct plant. The present inventionfurther contemplates plant parts of such an F1 hybrid Tagetes plant, andmethods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention provide an F1 hybrid Tagetes plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofthe Tagetes variety designated ‘PAS1077396’ is provided. The inventionthus provides Tagetes plant cells that have a genetic complement inaccordance with the Tagetes plant cells disclosed herein, and plants,seeds, and plant parts containing such cells. Plant genetic complementsmay be assessed by genetic marker profiles, and by the expression ofphenotypic traits that are characteristic of the expression of thegenetic complement.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by Tagetes plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a Tagetes plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second Tagetes plant, preferably another, distinctTagetes plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides aTagetes plant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybridgenetic complement of this invention.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method ofdetermining the genotype of a plant of Tagetes patula variety‘PAS1077396’ comprising detecting in the genome of the plant at least afirst polymorphism. The method may, in certain embodiments, comprisedetecting a plurality of polymorphisms in the genome of the plant. Themethod may further comprise storing the results of the step of detectingthe plurality of polymorphisms on a computer readable medium. Theinvention further provides a computer readable medium produced by such amethod.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from variety ‘PAS1077396’, the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived fromvariety ‘PAS1077396’, wherein said preparing comprises crossing a plantof the variety ‘PAS1077396’ with a second plant; and (b) crossing theprogeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from variety ‘PAS1077396’.The plant derived from variety ‘PAS1077396’ may be an inbred line, andthe aforementioned repeated crossing steps may be defined as comprisingsufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line. In the method, it maybe desirable to select particular plants resulting from step (c) forcontinued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). By selecting plantshaving one or more desirable traits, a plant derived from variety‘PAS1077396’ is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits ofthe variety as well as potentially other selected traits.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method ofproducing a Tagetes patula plant variety comprising the steps of: (a)crossing a plant of Tagetes patula variety ‘Little Devil Fire’ with asecond Tagetes patula plant to produce progeny; and (b) backcrossing forat least about 1 to 7 subsequent generations a plant of Tagetes patulavariety ‘Little Devil Fire’ to said progeny; wherein said backcrossingcomprises selecting a progeny plant comprising the traits of Tagetespatula plant variety ‘PAS1077396’.

These and other features and advantages of this invention are describedin, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of variousexemplary embodiments of the devices and methods according to thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Shows the crossing and selections that led directly to Tagetespatula variety ‘PAS1077396’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds, and derivatives of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’. Variety‘PAS1077396’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The variety of the present invention is one of a series ofcolors that continue to flower and maintain a compact habit under highhumidity and high night temperatures.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom seed and grown under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown utilizing a soilless growthmedium in trays having 2⅜″×2⅜″ growing cells in a greenhouse in Elburn,Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 72° F. to86° F. (22.2° C. to 30° C.) during the day and approximately 61° F. to69° F. (16.1° C. to 20.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lightingwas provided. After seven weeks, plants were transferred to one-galloncontainers and grown outdoors in Elburn, Ill. for six weeks.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in June 2014 under naturallight conditions in Elburn, Ill.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Tagetes patula Variety ‘PAS1077396’

The crossing and selections that led to Tagetes patula variety‘PAS1077396’ are shown in FIG. 1. Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ isuniform and stable. A small percentage of variants can occur withincommercially acceptable limits for almost any characteristic during thecourse of repeated multiplication. However, no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Tagetes patulaVariety ‘PAS1077396’

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’. A description ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of Tagetes patulavariety ‘PAS1077396’ is presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Tagetespatula variety ‘PAS1077396’ 1. OVERALL PLANT HABIT ‘PAS1077396’ ‘LittleDevil Fire’ (at Flowering Stage): Data Collection Site: Elburn,Illinois, June 2014 Species Type: 1 = T. erecta 2 2 (African); 2 = T.patula (French); 3 = T. tenuifolia (Signata); 4 = T. lucida (Sweet); 5 =Other Ploidy: 1 = Haploid; 2 = Diploid; 4 4 3 = Triploid; 4 = TetraploidChromosome Number (1N) 48 48 Days from Planting to First 35 to 40 35 to40 Flowering Flowering Season Long season Long season Plant Height atMaturity (cm) 17.0 13.1 Plant Width at Maturity (cm) 24.5 19.2 PlantHeight Class: 1 = Extra Dwarf 1 1 <20 cm; 2 = Dwarf 25-35 cm; 3 =Semi-dwarf; 4 = Tall Plant Width Class: 1 = Compact; 1 1 2 =Semi-compact; 3 = Spreading/Lax Growth Form: 1 = Upright; 1 1 2 =Semi-prostrate; 3 = Prostrate 2. FOLIAGE: Leaf Type: 1 = Simple (pseudo-1 1 compound); 2 = Compound Leaf Shape: 1 = Filiform; 3 3 2 =Lanceolate; 3 = Elliptic; 4 = Obovate; 5 = Ovate Leaf Margin: 1 =Entire; 6 6 2 = Crenate; 3 = Serrate; 4 = Dentate; 5 = Incised; 6 =Other: Incised with serrate lobes Leaf Width (mm) 40 43 Leaf Length (mm)70 84 Leaf Color: 1 = Light Green; 3 3 2 = Medium Green; 3 = Dark Green;4 = Bronze RHS Colour Chart Code N137A N137A Petiole Anthocyanin: 1 =Absent; 1 1 2 = Mild; 3 = Strong Glands: 1 = Absent; 2 = Punctuate; 2 23 = Large Dots Glands Location: 1 = Basal; 1 1 2 = Apical; 3 = Both LeafOdor: 1 = None; 2 = Mild 4 4 Fragrance; 3 = Strong Fragrance; 4 = Mild“Marigold”; 5 = Strong “Marigold” 3. STEM: Profile: 1 = Straight; 2 =Zig Zag 2 2 Structure: 1 = Brittle; 2 2 2 = Intermediate; 3 = FlexibleStem Anthocyanin: 1 = Absent; 3 3 2 = Along Veins Only; 3 = SolidColoration below the first node Stem Length from Base of Stem to 6.5 5.0Involucre of Terminal Flower (cm) Stem Length from Base of Stem to 4.53.5 Axil of Top Branch (cm) Stem Length from Axil of Top 2.0 1.5 Branchto Involucre of Terminal Flower (cm) Number of Internodes Below First 11 Branch Number of First Order Branches 4 4 4. FLOWER HEAD: Type: 1 =Carnation; 3 3 2 = Chrysanthemum; 3 = Crested Fullness: 1 = Single; 2 =Semi- 3 3 double; 3 = Double Silhouette: 1 = Flattened; 3 3 2 = Rosette;3 = Globular Number Flower Heads per Plant 17 12 Flower Head Diameter(mm) 45 40 Flower Odor: 1 = None; 2 = Mild 4 4 Fragrance; 3 = StrongFragrance; 4 = Mild “Marigold”; 5 = Strong “Marigold” Flower HeadColors: 1 = Single; 1 3 2 = Bicolor; 3 = Tricolor 5. FLOWER COLORS: RayFloret Color (RHS Colour Yellow 6B Mahogany 185A Chart Code) with athick margin of yellow 12A Disk Floret Color (RHS Colour Yellow 6BYellow-orange Chart Code) 21B with tips of yellow 12A 6. RAY FLORET:Length, Outer Row of First Matured 26 24 Flower (mm) Width, Outer Row ofFirst Matured 20 17 Flower (mm) Shape: 1 = Flattened; 3 3 2 =Curled/Twisted (‘Fantastic’); 3 = Slightly wavy Apices: 1 = Entire; 2 =Lobed; 3 3 3 = Notched Dorsal Surface: 1 = Glabrous; 1 1 2 = Pubescent;3 = Pubescent on Apices Only Ventral Surface: 1 = Glabrous; 1 1 2 =Pubescent; 3 = Pubescent on Apices Only Dorsal Luster: 1 = Shiny; 2 =Dull 2 2 Ventral Luster: 1 = Shiny; 2 = Dull 2 2 Dorsal Color Pattern: 1= Solid; 1 4 2 = Spotted; 3 = Striped; 4 = Picotee; 5 = Other VentralColor Pattern: 1 = Solid; 1 1 2 = Spotted; 3 = Striped; 4 = Picotee; 5 =Other RHS Colour Chart Code 5C 13B 7. DISC FLORETS: Disc Flowers: 1 =Absent; 3 3 2 = Present but Covered; 3 = Present and Uncovered DiscFlower Type: 1 = Not Quilled; 1 1 2 = Quilled 8. SEEDS: Mature (Dry)Seeds Seed Set: 1 = None; 2 = Poor; 4 4 3 = Fair; 4 = Good; 5 =Excellent Seed Coat Color: 1 = White; 4 4 2 = Tan; 3 = Brown; 4 = Black;5 = Other Pappus Color: 1 = White; 2 = Tan; 2 2 3 = Brown; 4 = OtherSeeds per gram 458 300 *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

C. Response of Tagetes patula Variety ‘PAS1077396’ to High Humidity andHigh Night Temperatures

To determine the effect of high night temperature and high humidity onplant habit and flowering, plants were grown in Ruskin, Fla. Seed wassown on Jun. 20, 2014 and for eleven days after germination, plants weremaintained in a greenhouse with high temperatures ranging fromapproximately 86° F. to 88° F. (30° C. to 31° C.) and with a lowtemperature that was not colder than 75° F. (24° C.). The overallaverage temperature was 80° F. (27° C.). Plants were maintained outdoorsafter being transplanted in trays having 2⅜″×2⅜″ growing cells and asoilless growth medium. After three weeks, plants were transplanted inthe field. During the outdoor growth period, daily high temperaturesranged from approximately 81° F. to 97° F. (27° C. to 36° C.), daily lowtemperatures ranged from approximately 72° F. to 81° F. (22° C. to 27°C.), and the overall average temperature was 84° F. (29° C.). Humiditypercentages for this period ranged from an average daily high of 99% toan average daily low of 60%, with an overall average of 82%. Outdoortemperature and humidity values are from the Tampa Airport weatherstation. Data was collected for ten plants of each variety six weeksafter transplant to the field.

In comparison, the plants from the Elburn, Ill. trial were grown inone-gallon containers under an outdoor growth period having daily hightemperatures ranging from approximately 65° F. to 90° F. (18° C. to 32°C.), daily low temperatures ranging from approximately 42° F. to 73° F.(6° C. to 23° C.), and an overall average temperature of 70° F. (21°C.). Humidity percentages for this period ranged from an average dailyhigh of 89% to an average daily low of 45%, with an overall average of67%. Outdoor temperature and humidity values are from the Aurora Airportweather station. Data was collected for ten plants of each variety sixweeks after transplant outdoors.

A well-known commercial variety ‘Bonanza Yellow’ was used to illustratethe effect on flowering under the high night temperatures and highhumidity typical for the outdoor Florida environment. Tagetes patulavariety ‘Little Devil Fire’ was used as a comparison variety known toflower abundantly while maintaining a more compact habit under highnight temperatures and high humidity.

In the Elburn, Ill. trial, a comparison of plant height, plant width,and number of inflorescences for ‘Little Devil Fire’ and ‘BonanzaYellow’ is shown in Table 2. Data indicate that under these growthconditions, ‘Little Devil Fire’ is shorter and narrower than ‘BonanzaYellow’. While more compact, ‘Little Devil Fire’ has a similar number ofinflorescences per plant as ‘Bonanza Yellow’. As shown above in Table 1,Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ has a compact habit similar to‘Little Devil Fire’ and has fewer inflorescences per plant.

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘Little Devil Fire’ and ‘Bonanza Yellow’ grown inElburn, Illinois ‘Little Charac- Devil ‘Bonanza Sample t Critical t Sta-P teristic Fire’ Yellow’ Size α = .05 tistic Value Plant 13.1 +/− 0.928.7 +/− 2.4 10 2.1 −19.3 1.7E−13 Height (cm) Plant 19.2 +/− 1.5 37.5+/− 3.5 10 2.1 −15.2 9.9E−12 Width (cm) Number 17.7 +/− 1.8 19.6 +/− 3.110 2.1  −1.7 0.1 Inflores- cences

In the Ruskin, Fla. trial, a comparison of plant height, plant width,and number of inflorescences of ‘Little Devil Fire’ and ‘Bonanza Yellow’is shown in Table 3. Data indicates that under these growth conditions,‘Little Devil Fire’ is shorter and narrower than ‘Bonanza Yellow’. Whilemaintaining a more compact habit, ‘Little Devil Fire’ has significantlymore inflorescences per plant than ‘Bonanza Yellow’ under the high nighttemperatures and high humidity conditions.

TABLE 3 Comparison of ‘Little Devil Fire’ and ‘Bonanza Yellow’ grown inRuskin, Florida ‘Little t Charac- Devil ‘Bonanza Sample t Critical Sta-P teristic Fire’ Yellow’ Size α = .05 tistic Value Plant 27.7 +/− 3.848.6 +/− 3.6 10 2.1 −12.7 2.0E−10 Height (cm) Plant 40.9 +/− 3.0 60.4+/− 7.5 10 2.1 −7.6 4.9E−07 Width (cm) Number 52.5 +/− 12.8 27.2 +/−11.3 10 2.1  4.7 1.8E−04 Inflores- cences

In the Ruskin trial, a comparison of plant height, plant width, andnumber of inflorescences of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ to both‘Little Devil Fire’ and ‘Bonanza Yellow’ is shown in Tables 4 and 5.Data indicates that Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ maintains acompact habit similar to ‘Little Devil Fire’ and has significantly moreinflorescences per plant than ‘Bonanza Yellow’ under the high nighttemperatures and high humidity conditions.

TABLE 4 Comparison of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ and ‘LittleDevil Fire’ grown in Ruskin, Florida ‘Little Sam- t Charac- Devil pleCritical t P teristic ‘PAS1077396’ Fire’ Size α = .05 Statistic ValuePlant 28.0 +/− 1.8 27.7 +/− 3.8 10 2.1 −0.2 0.8 Height (cm) Plant 45.4+/− 5.5 40.9 +/− 3.0 10 2.1 −2.3 3.4E−02 Width (cm) Number 57.0 +/− 10.552.5 +/− 12.8 10 2.1 −0.9 0.4 Inflores- cences

TABLE 5 Comparison of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ and ‘BonanzaYellow’ grown in Ruskin, Florida Sam- t Charac- ‘Bonanza ple Critical tP teristic ‘PAS1077396’ Yellow’ Size α = .05 Statistic Value Plant 28.0+/− 1.8 48.6 +/− 3.6 10 2.1 16.3 3.3E−12 Height (cm) Plant 45.4 +/− 5.560.4 +/− 7.5 10 2.1  5.1 8.0E−05 Width (cm) Number 57.0 +/− 10.5 27.2+/− 11.3 10 2.1 −6.1 8.9E−06 Inflores- cences

D. Breeding Marigold Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’. In one embodiment of theinvention, Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ may be crossed withitself or with any second variety or plant to obtain progeny seeds. In aparticular embodiment, the second plant may be a Tagetes patula plantand the progeny seed may be planted and grown to produce fertile hybridprogeny plants. A plant in accordance with the invention may be used insuch crosses as the female plant or the male plant. In a furtherembodiment, Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ may be used as a maleparent plant and crossed with a Tagetes erecta plant as a female parentplant to obtain triploid (3N) marigold progeny seeds. Such seeds may beplanted and grown to produce sterile triploid progeny plants. Methodssuch as those described herein may be used for propagation of Tagetespatula variety ‘PAS1077396’, or can be used to produce plants that arederived from Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’. Plants derived fromTagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ may be used, in certain embodiments,for the development of new marigold varieties such as described herein.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing variety ‘PAS1077396’ followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novelvarieties, it may be desired to choose those plants which eitherthemselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics orwhich exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination.Once initial crosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take placeto produce new varieties. For development of a uniform line, often fiveor more generations of selfing and selection are typically involved.

In one embodiment, progeny marigold plants of a backcross in which aplant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desiredtrait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of marigold the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

Backcrossing can be used to improve a variety, and may be used, forexample, to introduce a desired allele or trait into the plant geneticbackground of any plant that is sexually compatible with a plant of thepresent invention. Backcrossing transfers a specific desired trait fromone inbred or non-inbred source to a variety that lacks that trait. Thiscan be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a variety of adesired genetic background (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred(non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate allele or loci forthe desired trait(s) in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the recurrent parent, followed by selection in theresultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. The process is repeated, for example for five ormore backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, until aplant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphologicaland physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recoveredin the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred locus fromthe nonrecurrent parent. The progeny thus have the characteristic beingtransferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almost allother loci. The last backcross generation can be selfed to givetrue-breeding progeny when the trait being transferred is introgressedinto a true-breeding variety.

The recurrent parent therefore provides the desired genetic background,while the choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend onthe purpose of the backcross. One of the major purposes is to add somecommercially desirable trait to the plant. The exact backcrossingprotocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered andthe genetic distance between the recurrent and nonrecurrent parents.Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristicbeing transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele or anadditive allele (between recessive and dominant) may also betransferred. In this instance it may be necessary to introduce a test ofthe progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has beensuccessfully transferred.

Modified backcrossing may also be used with plants of the presentinvention. This technique uses different recurrent parents during thebackcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used to replace the originalrecurrent parent with a variety having certain more desirablecharacteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtain differentdesirable characteristics from each.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the genetic background of the plants.In selecting a second plant to cross with Tagetes patula variety‘PAS1077396’ for the purpose of developing novel marigold varieties orlines, it will typically be preferred to choose those plants whicheither themselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristicsor which exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybridcombination. Examples of desirable traits may include, in specificembodiments, high flower yield, flower quality, high seed germination,seedling vigor, disease tolerance or resistance, and adaptability forsoil and climate conditions such as drought or heat. Consumer-driventraits, such as a flower color, shape, and texture, are other examplesof traits that may be incorporated into new lines of marigold plantsdeveloped by this invention.

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In other embodiments, the invention provides methods of vegetativelypropagating a plant of the present invention. Such a method may comprisethe steps of: comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable ofbeing propagated from said plant; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtainproliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtainrooted plantlets. In other embodiments, such a method may furthercomprise growing Tagetes plants from the rooted plantlets. In stillfurther embodiments, a plant of the invention is propagated by seed,wherein a plant may be used as either a female or a male parent forproducing progeny seed and plants.

Also provided are methods of producing a Tagetes plant of the presentinvention, said method comprising introgressing a desired allele from aplant comprising the allele into a plant of a different genotype. Incertain embodiments, such an allele may be inherited from orintrogressed into Tagetes variety ‘PAS1077396’ or a progeny of anygeneration thereof comprising the allele.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, or herbicide orinsect resistance. These comprise genes generally inherited through thenucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of marigold plants for breeding is not necessarily dependenton the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. Thus, in one embodiment, the invention provides thegenetic complement of a marigold plant as described herein. “Geneticcomplement” as used herein refers to the aggregate of nucleotidesequences, the expression of which sequences defines the phenotype of,in the present case, a marigold plant, or a cell or tissue of thatplant. A genetic complement thus represents the genetic makeup of acell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid genetic complement represents thegenetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue or plant. The geneticcomplement of variety ‘PAS1077396’ may be identified by any of the manywell-known techniques in the art. For example, one can utilize asuitable genetic marker that is closely genetically linked to a trait ofinterest. One of these markers can be used to identify the presence orabsence of a trait in the offspring of a particular cross, and can beused in selection of progeny for continued breeding. This technique iscommonly referred to as marker assisted selection.

Any other type of genetic marker or other assay which is able toidentify the relative presence or absence of a trait of interest in aplant can also be useful for breeding purposes. Procedures for markerassisted selection are well known in the art. Such methods will be ofparticular utility in the case of recessive traits and variablephenotypes, or where conventional assays may be more expensive, timeconsuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of genetic markers whichcould be used in accordance with the invention include, but are notnecessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs)(Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into a line.This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traits into aline or variety may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the line orvariety by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into a line via this methodology. When thisline containing the additional loci is further crossed with anotherparental line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possible to thenincorporate at least eight separate additional loci into the hybrid.These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as diseaseresistance, drought or heat tolerance, or a flower quality trait. In oneembodiment, each locus may confer a separate trait. In anotherembodiment, loci may need to be homozygous and exist in each parent lineto confer a trait in the hybrid. In yet another embodiment, multipleloci may be combined to confer a single robust phenotype of a desiredtrait.

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., BioTechnology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance, or anyother gene of agronomic interest. Examples of constitutive promotersuseful for plant gene expression include, but are not limited to, thecauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) P-35S promoter, which confersconstitutive, high-level expression in most plant tissues (see, e.g.,Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985), including in monocots (see, e.g.,Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591, 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol.Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemly duplicated version of the CaMV35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter (P-e35S); 1 the nopalinesynthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988); theoctopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989); andthe figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where thepromoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflowermosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; acommelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNA viruspromoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a marigold plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a marigold plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as environmental or stresstolerances, or any desirable changes in plant physiology, growth,development, morphology or plant product(s). For example, structuralgenes would include any gene that confers insect tolerance including butnot limited to a Bacillus insect control protein gene as described in WO99/31248, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat.No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety. In another embodiment, the structural gene can confertolerance to the herbicide glyphosate as conferred by genes including,but not limited to Agrobacterium strain CP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPSgene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435, hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety, or glyphosate oxidoreductasegene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175, herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech Gen Engin Rev, 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson et al., Mol Biotech,7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNA whichexpresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is useful for thepractice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules that can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marigold Plant: As used herein, a marigold plant refers to any plantfrom the genus Tagetes, which may include but is not limited to Tagetespatula, Tagetes erecta, Tagetes lucida, Tagetes minuta, Tagetestenuifolia, Tagetes argentina, Tagetes biflora, Tagetes campanulata,Tagetes dianthiflora, Tagetes elliptica, Tagetes, filifolia, TagetesFoetidissima, Tagetes heterocarpha, Tagetes hartwegii, Tagetes laxa,Tagetes Lemmoni, Tagetes micrantha, and the like.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Plant Part: As used herein, a plant part refers to a part of a plant ofthe present invention. A plant part may be defined as comprising a cellof such plant, such as a cutting, a leaf, a floret, an ovule, pollen, acell, a seed, a flower, an embryo, a meristem, a cotyledon, an anther, aroot, a root tip, a pistil, a stem, and a protoplast or callus derivedtherefrom.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart value: The RHS ColourChart is a standardized reference which allows accurate identificationof any color. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue,brightness and saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS colorchart by identifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g.,Yellow-Orange Group 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a marigoldvariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a marigold plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

Deposits of at least 2500 seeds of Tagetes patula varieties ‘PAS1077396’and ‘Little Devil Fire’, disclosed above and recited in the claims, havebeen made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The dates of deposit wereFeb. 2, 2016 and Feb. 2, 2016, respectively. The accession numbers forthose deposited seeds of Tagetes patula varieties ‘PAS1077396’ and‘Little Devil Fire’ are ATCC Accession No. PTA-122803 and ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-122805, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’, asample of seed of said variety having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-122803.
 2. A plant of Tagetes patula variety‘PAS1077396’, a sample of seed of said variety having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-122803.
 3. A plant part of the plant ofclaim
 2. 4. The plant part of claim 3, wherein said part is selectedfrom the group consisting of a flower, a floret, a cutting, a leaf, anovule, pollen, or a cell.
 5. A Tagetes patula plant, or a part thereof,having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of theplant of claim
 2. 6. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of Tagetespatula variety ‘PAS1077396’, a sample of seed of said variety havingbeen deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122803.
 7. The tissueculture according to claim 6, comprising cells or protoplasts from aplant part selected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,florets, seeds, and stems.
 8. A plant regenerated from the tissueculture of claim 6, wherein the regenerated plant expresses all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of Tagetes patulavariety ‘PAS1077396’, a sample of seed of said variety having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122803.
 9. A method ofproducing Tagetes seed, comprising crossing the plant of claim 2 withitself or a second marigold plant and collecting resulting seed.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein said second marigold plant comprises a plantof Tagetes patula variety ‘Little Devil Fire’, a sample of seed of whichhas been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122805.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising backcrossing a progeny resultingfrom said crossing, wherein Tagetes patula variety ‘Little Devil Fire’is used as the recurrent parent.
 12. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising selecting a Tagetes patula variety resulting from saidbackcrossing.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein said second marigoldplant is a Tagetes erecta plant and said Tagetes seed produces steriletriploid plants.
 14. An F1 hybrid seed produced by the method of claim9.
 15. An F1 hybrid plant produced by growing the seed of claim
 14. 16.A method for producing a seed of a variety ‘PAS1077396’-derived Tagetespatula plant comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a Tagetes patulaplant of variety ‘PAS1077396’ with a second marigold plant, a sample ofseed of said variety ‘PAS1077396’ having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-122803; and (b) allowing seed of a‘PAS1077396’-derived Tagetes patula plant to form.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising the steps of: (c) crossing a plant grownfrom said ‘PAS1077396’-derived Tagetes patula seed with itself or asecond marigold plant to yield additional ‘PAS1077396’-derived seed; (d)growing said additional ‘PAS1077396’-derived seed of step (c) to yieldadditional ‘PAS1077396’-derived plants; and (e) repeating the crossingand growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate further‘PAS1077396’-derived plants.
 18. A method of introducing a desired traitinto Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’ comprising: (a) crossing aplant of variety ‘PAS1077396’ with a second marigold plant thatcomprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed ofsaid variety ‘PAS1077396’ having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-122803; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises thedesired trait; (c) crossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant ofvariety ‘PAS1077396’ to produce backcross progeny; (d) selectingbackcross progeny comprising the desired trait and the physiological andmorphological characteristic of variety ‘PAS1077396’; and (e) repeatingsteps (c) and (d) three or more times to produce selected fourth orhigher backcross progeny that comprise the desired trait and otherwiseall of the physiological and morphological characteristics of Tagetespatula variety ‘PAS1077396’ when grown in the same environmentalconditions.
 19. A plant comprising a desired trait produced by themethod of claim
 18. 20. A method of producing a plant of Tagetes patulavariety ‘PAS1077396’ comprising an added desired trait, the methodcomprising introducing a transgene conferring the desired trait into aplant of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077396’, a sample of seed of saidvariety ‘PAS1077396’ having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-122803.
 21. A seed of the plant of claim
 19. 22. A method ofproducing a Tagetes patula plant variety comprising the steps of: (a)crossing a plant of Tagetes patula variety ‘Little Devil Fire’ with asecond Tagetes patula plant to produce progeny; and (b) backcrossing forat least about 1 to 7 subsequent generations a plant of Tagetes patulavariety ‘Little Devil Fire’ to said progeny; wherein said backcrossingcomprises selecting a progeny plant comprising the traits of Tagetespatula plant variety ‘PAS1077396’; and wherein samples of seed of saidvarieties ‘PAS1077396’ and ‘Little Devil Fire’ have been deposited underATCC Accession Numbers PTA-122803 and PTA-122803, respectively.